YEAR IN REVIEW

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Dr. Brian J.R. Stevenson

This past winter, Lakehead students joined long-term care home residents to offer music and companionship as part of an interdisciplinary research project to improve the quality of life of older people. As these seniors and students raised their voices in song, their differences fell away and they were united by their common humanity.

The collaboration of Lakehead's music, social work, and gerontology programs to enhance palliative care through music is just one of the many success stories featured in the 2011-2012 Report to the Community. And it is a story that crystallizes what Lakehead is all about. We are a place that builds connections - connections between people, communities, organizations, and ideas.

Understanding who we are and where we are going is essential to Lakehead's future. We are in the midst of refining our Strategic Plan for 2013-2018 with its priorities on Growth and Capacity Development, Nurturing Scholarship, Learner-Centred Student Experience, Community Engagement, and Economic Development.

These new strategic directions are already resulting in real change, such as greater social justice, with initiatives like our Achievement Program. Now, Aboriginal students and children facing financial barriers have the opportunity to take their place alongside their classmates and become university graduates. Social justice was also on our minds this year as we welcomed our founding Dean of Law, Professor Lee Stuesser.

The eagerness of our students, staff, and faculty to reach out has been a highlight of the last year. And it has made my job as president a rewarding and exciting one, especially since these efforts are being reciprocated by our many community partners and donors who believe in Lakehead as much as we do.

We've discovered that we are all on the same team and that when we work together, we can do great things.

Brian J. R. Stevenson, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011-12

Major community outreach initiatives, innovative research and industry partnerships, and the many accomplishments of our students made 2011-12 a stellar year. The past twelve months were also marked by milestones in the growth of Lakehead as a comprehensive university.

Read on and discover some of the year's highlights.

Faculty of Law Gets the Green Light from the Province of Ontario

In a ceremony on the lawn of the new Lakehead Faculty of Law building, MPP Thunder Bay - Superior North Michael Gravelle, together with Bill Mauro MPP Thunder Bay - Atikokan, announced funding support from Ontario's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for Lakehead's Faculty of Law. As part of the Province's capital improvements budget, MTCU made a $1.5 million commitment to complete capital improvements to the historic PACI building in Thunder Bay where the Faculty of Law will be housed.

Lakehead University Announces Founding Dean of Law

Lakehead University introduced its Founding Dean of Law, Harvard educated Lee Stuesser, in May 2012. Born and raised in northern Saskatchewan, Stuesser comes to Lakehead from Australia's Bond University where he was a professor and administrator. Before that, he was a law professor with the University of Manitoba for more than 20 years and he has also taught at the University of Ottawa and Royal Roads University.

MEAGlow Semiconductor Research Laboratory Opens at Lakehead University

A state-of-the-art semiconductor research laboratory officially opened on June 10. A joint project between Lakehead University and MEAGlow Ltd. - an Ontario-based company established to help commercialize MEAGlow technology - the lab houses a Canadian-designed MEAGlow chemical film growth reactor, built in Thunder Bay, that grows very thin crystal layers of nitride semiconductors on micro, nano, and sub-atomic scales, including two dimensional structures.

Postsecondary Education: Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.

It wasn't a typical lunch hour at Sherbrooke Public School on April 11, 2012. Instead of munching on apples and sandwiches, students had a front row seat for the signing of a historic agreement that could put them on the path to becoming Lakehead University graduates. These future doctors, lawyers, geologists, biologists, teachers - and maybe even an astronaut or two - were part of an enthusiastic audience that gathered for the signing of the Achievement Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lakehead University and the Lakehead District School Board (LDSB).

Canadian Delegation Travels to Mexico to Discuss Indigenous Higher Education

Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson and University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vianne Timmons co-led a group of Canadian universities on a trip to Mexico City to discuss Indigenous higher education. Representatives from the two countries spent March 11-12 establishing partnerships and gaining a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the issue.

Leaner, More Responsive Lakehead Board

The Board of Governors at Lakehead University is now smaller in size - and more effective - after members agreed to reduce their numbers from 30 to 17. The Board also agreed to reduce the number of committees from 11 to six through strategic consolidation.

Lakehead Athletics and Wasaya Airways Bring Sport and Leadership to Fly-In Communities

Wasaya Airways and Lakehead University signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Wasaya Airways Thunder Bay hangar and announced Reach Up! - Northern Community Sports and Leadership Program. Reach Up! is a collaborative initiative between Lakehead University Athletics and Wasaya Airways to provide on-site instruction in sport-specific coaching and general leadership strategies for youth in Northern Ontario First Nations communities serviced by Wasaya Airways.

New Centre Spells Success for Lakehead Students on Thunder Bay Campus

Success is just around the corner with the grand opening of the Student Success Centre (SSC). Ceremonies were held at the new Centre in the underground tunnel area near the LUSU office and Campus Tech. The SSC is part of Lakehead's strategy to give students the tools and resources they need to thrive at University and to launch them in their careers after graduation. The SSC combines the services of the former Office of Academic Advising, Career and Co-operative Education, Tutoring Services, and Orientation and Commuter Services to provide enhanced student support in one central location.

12.6% Jump in Student Applications - Highest Increase among Ontario Universities

According to figures released in January by the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), Lakehead University experienced a dramatic increase in the number of applications from Ontario high school students received to date compared to the number of applications received at this time last year.

Lakehead U and RBC Wrap Up Joint Aboriginal Outreach Program

Lakehead University and RBC celebrated the success of the pilot Joint Aboriginal Outreach Project launched in November 2010. The project, a joint initiative between Lakehead's Office of Aboriginal Initiatives and RBC, introduced Aboriginal youth to education options and support systems at Lakehead University while strengthening RBC's relationship with the Aboriginal community.

Lakehead University Orillia Showcases Campus at Open Doors - Open Knowledge Event

Lakehead University joined more than 50 universities across Canada to celebrate the success of the federal government's Knowledge Infrastructure program (KIP) which strengthened Canada's research, innovation, and education capacity in ways that will benefit Canadians for generations to come. The Orillia campus hosted an Open Doors - Open Knowledge event to acknowledge the receipt of $13 million in federal funding under the KIP program for the construction of its Academic Building at 500 University Avenue.

Professor Mary Lou Kelley receives Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association 2011 Award of Excellence

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) announced at its annual conference in St. John's, Newfoundland, that Mary Lou Kelley is the recipient of the 2011 Award of Excellence in Hospice Palliative Care. Kelley is a pioneering and dedicated professor of social work at Lakehead University and an internationally recognized palliative care researcher.

Métis Nation of Ontario Signs Educational Partnership with Lakehead University

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and Lakehead University signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus. The MOU strengthens and formalizes the long-standing positive working relationship between the MNO and Lakehead University and establishes several key areas for collaboration.

CRIBE Invests $3 Million in Lakehead University and G2 Biochem Ethanol Partnership

The Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-economy (CRIBE) is providing $3 million for an innovative partnership between Lakehead University's Biorefining Research Initiative and G2 BioChem in Chatham. G2 BioChem's facility is the only provincial facility that allows the complete breakdown of wood fibre outside of a laboratory environment. This will allow Thunder Bay to be at the forefront of new uses for forest biomass.

Lakehead Researchers make ground-breaking discovery

Professor Rui Wang, the vice-president of research, economic development and innovation at Lakehead University, has been fascinated with hydrogen sulfide for more than a decade. For the past three years, Wang and his team of scientists have been trying to figure out how mammalian cells can sense changes in oxygen levels and take necessary measures to cope with hypoxia oxygen and blood flow deprivation. It turns out that H2S gas is the key to this puzzle.

A Week of Celebration, Education, and Innovation

What a week to remember! The 7th Annual Research & Innovation Week drew to a close with Professor Chris Southcott named the 2011 Distinguished Researcher. Faculty and students were also honoured at a special awards reception for research excellence. The week was filled with lively conversations and the exchange of ideas on the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses.

Provincial Funds of $1M Support R+D Platform to Revolutionize Non-Invasive Imaging

The Province of Ontario announced $1M in funding to support and advance the work of Dr. Mitchell Albert, a recently recruited scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI) and a Research Chair and Professor of Chemistry at Lakehead University. Dr. Albert is an experienced innovator who has co-invented a powerful new diagnostic technology - hyperpolarized (HP) gas MRI. Professor Albert and his team are taking this breakthrough method to the next level by developing new technology that will improve imaging for asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary embolism, lung and breast cancer, stroke, atherosclerosis, and diseases of the brain.

Lakehead University 2011-2012 Report to the Community